How many forms are enough?

In my time as a student of Taiji, I have had the privilege of being trained by highly regarded and highly skilled Masters. Their approaches to what to train their students however are poles apart in some respects. One focused on learning just one form for each discipline i.e. one barehand, one sword etc. The other teaches a range of different forms e.g. Yang style 8 step, 16 step, 24 step etc. This is not a discussion about which is the best. In my view both of them have contributed immensely to my Taiji practice and still do today. There are however "arguments" in the Taiji world as to which is the best way. I would like to put forward some pros and cons for both systems.

In the first option we have the one form teaches all. The pros for this system means that there is no distraction about how many forms do you know and this enabled time and practice for the deeper levels of Taiji e.g. more push hands and internal training of which there was plenty practice. It also took the pressure off having to know a wide range of forms. It very much focuses on the principles of Taiji and the internal aspects that make the art what it is. The second option of learning a wide range of forms from 8 - 88 steps also has its benefits. Although the same moves are used, training them in different patterns and from different angles gives a person a broader view of the way these moves can be used. It highlights that you won't always follow a brush knee twist step with a strum the lute posture, for example. Another benefit I find is that by learning a range of forms then the moves are done on both sides. This is something that I personally struggled with initially and I know my students do too but with patience and perseverance it is possible to make both sides as equally good.

The dangers of both options for me are as follows: the first option of just one hand form means that the moves are always done in a set order and it is easy to get too comfortable with that pattern. Usually where someone is learning just one form it tends to be the long form of whatever style. In Yang style (the style that I learned)not many of the postures are done on both sides. I feel this is a disadvantage to learning just one form. The main disadvantage to the second option is that the Taiji focus can become about how many forms can you do. There is a view sometimes taken that the more forms you know the better that person is at Taiji. I don't agree with that at all. It also makes the form more competitive in an unhealthy way. The only person we really need to compete with is ourselves. In the end it all comes down to the attitude of the individual but no one system is better than the other. I'm very grateful for the opportunity to learn under both options.

The form is not Taiji!

That sounds like an outlandish statement but I read something by Michael Gilman the other week that said just that. I read this to my students before we headed off for coffee and cake at a local cafe and asked for their comments and thoughts. I can't recall specifics but the conversation that took place around the table was incredible and for me very spiritual. So before I give my take on the form not being Taiji can I just say that giving people time to talk about their Taiji has been a really good move. I remember watching a video about a Taiji master and after each session he and his students would go and have tea and talk about what they had been practising and although it is essential to physically practice, it is also essential to analyse and discuss experiences that occur in Taiji. I am loving our conversations just as much as the practice.

To go back to the title of this post. I agree with this statement if the form is just a sequence of moves performed or copied in a ritualised way. There is so much more to Taiji and without the intention and focus of the mind and movement of the Qi then the form is just a set of movements. Nothing different from doing an exercise class. However that is where we all start and although at times it is difficult to grasp a move it is actually the easiest bit of Taiji to learn. How far we take our Taiji is a personal choice and for some doing the form is Taiji and it goes no further but there is so much more out there to discover if we want to take the trouble and we have the time and commitment to do so.

For me it is so important to keep pushing myself. I love exploring what this art has to offer and I am so satisfied with the fact that I will never know it all but that I can keep trying and digging deeper. I find the whole thing exhilarating and exciting. I've done lots of types of exercise in my time and nothing comes close to what Taiji has to offer. I am so lucky to have found Taiji and to have the opportunity to share it with so many wonderful people. It would be great to see your comments about Taiji and the forms so please share your thoughts and lets keep the conversation going!

Tai Chi or Qigong - Which do you prefer?

My experience is that most people have never heard of Qigong when they set foot in a Tai Chi class. I certainly hadn't but I instantly fell in love with the Qigong and I am convinced that is what kept me coming back to the class. I am not the most patient person (better since doing Tai Chi) and I found Qigong easier to pick up and practise at home although it took several months before I confidently could remember the routine. Nonetheless I would try it each night after the children were in bed and loved the feeling of relaxation and calm it gave me.

Tai Chi was definitely a bigger challenge and a much slower process but I loved the Tai Chi because of that and there was nothing else like it that I had ever done. Having asked the question I'm not sure which I prefer. I love both systems but I know that some students are not as keen on the Qigong as the Tai Chi. I have taught classes that are just Qigong and just Tai Chi. I think Qigong classes can survive quite easily without any Tai Chi but I'm not sure that Tai Chi works as well on its own. The Qigong is a great system to get in the right frame of mind for doing the Tai Chi although I guess that might depend on which Qigong we are doing. In any case all my Tai Chi classes include Qigong. The question isn't really about which is better as they both have proven benefits - its a personal question and one which I can't answer!!! I love them both.

So come on, any thoughts or comments?

Tai Chi qualifications - how important are they?

This was not the post I originally had in mind however as I am going to Wolverhampton tomorrow for an instructor module and assessment some other thought/question sprang to mind - namely, "How important are Tai Chi qualifications?" On a personal note I find the training and instruction for them extremely useful. Certainly from the organisation that I train with - The Deyin Taijiquan Institute. The training is very good and thorough. Both Masters Faye and Tary are experienced practitioners and excellent teachers. I also think that having these qualifications gives me some credibility. It is also good to belong to an organisation that reviews your training and supports you in your development.

Interestingly though in the time I have been teaching Tai Chi, no-one has asked me for my credentials except one student who found himself apologising once I started to rattle them off. I actually didn't mind him asking but I think he thought he had been a bit cheeky - not at all. I worked hard to achieve what I have so far so to be asked is a refreshing change. When working for other organisations I have never been asked to produce my certificates or prove who I was (except for a school who wanted to see my passport and CRB). They had seen my website and that seemed to satisfy them. So are qualifications important? - does it matter whether your instructor has been through a training programme or has just decided to impart their knowledge of Tai Chi to anyone willing to pay? Tai Chi is not a regulated activity so basically anyone can set up a class. When I hire a hall I'm rarely asked for my public liability insurance let alone asked to prove that I am actually a qualified teacher. I guess students can decide for themselves what makes for a good Tai Chi teacher and use their feet if need be - or can they? If you don't know what Tai Chi is how can you make that judgement? Or maybe it is enough for some just to be out in a class with other people. If the Tai Chi isn't quite right, it doesn't matter, does it? I never want to get in a slanging match about good or bad teachers of Tai Chi although I have seen examples of what I would call bad teaching/Tai Chi but the question does get asked among instructors. I have to think about myself - I can't change other people but I can ask the questions and put it out there for discussion. Personally I feel better as a teacher having the qualifications behind me. It gives me confidence to actually share what I know (or think I know!). It would be good to hear others points of view. So please don't be shy, let me know what you think by commenting to this post.

Long time, no posts!

As you can see it has been 9 months since I posted anything on here so I have decided to rectify this. I already have a website (www.angelataichi.co.uk) and a Facebook page (/Angelas-Tai-Chi-School) which I keep up to date with things that are going on and photos of events etc so I have decided to use the blog in one of the ways I think a blog should be used and which is different from the aforementioned media. My plan is to post a thought, comment, quote etc each week to try and stimulate some discussion on here. I will use the website and Facebook to direct people here and hopefully start up some comments and feedback to what I post. I'm hoping that I can put up something in the next week, so watch this space!

WTCQD meeting

On Saturday we held our first meeting of the year to discuss putting on another WTCQD event at Festival Gardens, Liverpool. There were seven of us at the meeting: Barbara, Liverpool; Pat, St Helens; Stephen, Liverpool and Warrington; Jane, Leigh; Steve, North Wales and Gaynor, North Wales. And of course myself! Steve and Gaynor are going to do their first WTCQD in North Wales so won't be joining us:( but it is fantastic that they are spreading the news of Tai Chi and Qigong through this wonderful idea, set up by Bill and Angela Douglas, USA. A great afternoon was had which included a chilly walk to the gardens and further photos can be viewed on my Facebook page.

International Women's Day

I have been at a meeting today at Bluecoat in Liverpool to finalise arrangements for Tai Chi at this event - International Women's Day. The event takes place over the weekend of 8th and 9th March and the School will be kicking it all off with a Tai Chi taster session. The start time is yet to be confirmed but should be a great event. Once publicity is available I will post further details on here. Cycling back along the prom the water was very choppy but some great views and spotted a range of different birds. See if you can tell what the ones in the photo are.

Happy New Year

2014 looks like being another great year for Angela's Tai Chi School. There are already a number of events planned for the first half of the year with more to be added as we move through the year. So keep checking the webpage or my facebook page. This month I am holding another charity Tai Chi coffee morning. This will take place on Wednesday 29th January. A separate post will be included here in the next week or so. Other events to look forward to are two new Qigong classes starting later this month; Chinese New Year in February and World Tai Chi Day in Festival Gardens on the last Saturday of April. So keep looking out for details of what is going on. Have a fabulous year especially anything that is Tai Chi related.

Review of 2013

2013 has been a very exciting year with the business going from strength to strength. Lots of new classes starting. Some of which have come and gone but there are plenty which are going strong. As well as teaching in the South of the city, I have spread my wings to Crosby in the north of the city and taken on two established groups who unfortunately lost their teacher last Christmas. It was potentially a little nerve-wracking taking over from someone else but both groups made me very welcome and I think they are well used to my way of doing things now. Some of them from the Thursday group even took part in public demonstrations during the summer in aid of Freshfields Animal Rescue Centre.

In January we held our annual fundraising event at St Charles Church meeting room. This was to prove to be our last time at the meeting room after ten years of Tai Chi classes there. We moved to a new venue down the road which was much bigger and gave us more space to develop and expand as we needed. The fundraiser was in aid of the Macular Society in memory of one of the students who had died some months before. We raised over £400 and a good morning was had by all.

At Chinese New Year we were asked to take part in the Chinese Martial Arts festival being held at the World Museum over the weekend. This was a fabulous show of different martial arts from schools around Liverpool, brilliantly put together by Mike Dunn of Liverpool Karatejutsu. We showcased last each day which was a great way to finish the whole day off.

April was a busy month as I attended my first Qigong Instructor course with the British Health Qigong Association (BHQA)and qualified in the Dao Yin Yang Sheng Gong set. It was a great four days albeit a bit nerve-wracking on the final day when we were all assessed but well worth it.

Later in the month the school welcomed a delegation from China who came and did a session on the Yi Jin Jing set. A thoroughly enjoyed session which was attended by 18 Qigong enthusiasts.

The following weekend we held our first World Tai Chi and Qigong Day in the Festival Gardens. This was the end of four months hard work with fellow instructors from England, Wales and Scotland. It was a fabulous day and we made the local press as well.

In June we had our annual day out. This year we visited Port Sunlight and one of my students Harriet Gilmour, who had just qualified as a blue badge tour guide, gave us a great day out by showing us around the village and after lunch a tour of the art gallery including some interesting stories about some of the paintings. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the day. Well done Harriet:)

The classes in the summer continued as I eagerly awaited my trip to China. I had booked this with Tai Chi Link Travel. These trips are organised my Master Tary Yip who has many years of experience in delivering excellent trips to China for Tai Chi and non Tai Chi enthusiasts. A group of 21 people who didn't know each other and were from all corners of the country plus three wonderful ladies from Australia, had the trip of a lifetime. I was away for 20 days and experienced a wide variety of Chinese landscapes, food and history. It is a trip that had a big impact on me and along the way we did plenty of Tai Chi and Qigong too, including a day at the Renmin University in Beijing where Professor Li worked for 40 years. I highly recommend Tary if you wish to make a trip to China. While I was away I kept an online blog which can be viewed by clicking here. There are lots of photos if you are interested in having a look.

After that things go back to normal and the classes continued through till Christmas week. During that time I was fortunate to work with year 2 children at Dovedale School. I taught there for four weeks and had a fabulous time with the children. This year also saw the start of new out door class at Festival Gardens. This takes place every Tuesday morning at 9am and to date we have been very fortunate with the weather although now we are having to wrap up very warm but it is a fantastic experience doing Tai Chi outside and I love it. 2014 looks to be another good year and I will post shortly things that I have planned so far for the new year.

Tai Chi in the Festival Gardens

Today was week 9 of the classes being held in the Festival Gardens. Next Tuesday is our last week although we are hoping the sessions can continue upon my return from China. The setting and the weather (with the exception of week 1) have been absolutely fantastic.

Deyin Training Camp 2013

I have had yet another great weekend at the Deyin training camp. A huge thanks to Faye, Tary and Simon for their expert tuition. As usual there was a choice for each day and I picked Taiji stick qigong but others got to do the 24 step routine or the Taiji 24 spear on Saturday. On offer today was 42 step combined routine or Sun style sword. I did the 42 step with Faye and although a lot to get through in one session we did achieve it and I have some valuable pointers to work on. The Taiji stick Qigong was great and felt much better than the first workshop I went to and I have the DVD and book now so there should be no stopping me now! The other great thing about the weekend is that I get to meet up with all my Taiji friends that I have met over previous years and seminars. The atmosphere is fantastic and we are all just like one big family. Dates are in the diary for next year (28th and 29th June) so if you want quality Taiji instruction this is a great place to go.

Festival Gardens 1st Anniversary

Next Sunday, 23rd June the Festival Gardens will be celebrating their first birthday. Angela's Tai Chi School held demonstrations in the Chinese Garden at the opening and are pleased to announce that they will be there again this year as part of the Big Lunch that the gardens have organised. As part of this I will be there taking bookings for anyone who wishes to take part in the newly agreed Tai Chi weekly classes that will be starting from July 2nd (see website for further details). I am thrilled with this news. If you need an excuse to come and visit the gardens next weekend just take a look at some of the photos I have taken there over the last twelve months.

Port Sunlight Day Out June 2013

Yesterday we had our annual day out. Tai Chi was left at home and we took trains, buses and cars to gather at Port Sunlight on The Wirral. We enjoyed a guided tour by one of my students Harriet Gilmour who is a qualified blue badge tour guide. The morning was a walkabout tour from one end of the village to the other taking in sights such as the factory, Bridge Cottage, The Diamond with its amazing sun dial. Unfortunately the sun didn't shine so we weren't able to test it out. Harriet reassured us that it does work! After lunch we enjoyed a tour of the Lady Lever Art Gallery. A magnificent day. Below are a very small selection of photos from the day.

Another Successful Qigong Workshop

Professor Yang Bai Long oversees Professor Zhuang Yong Chang hanging up the banner before the start of the Yi Jin Jing Workshop held on 24th April at The Florrie. In total 18 people attended the workshop from as far away as Wrexham. The evening was led by Professor Zhuang who with his humour and excellent knowledge took us all through a thorough workout of this health qigong routine. Professor Yang was on hand to correct postures and Master Tary Yip (Deyin Taijiquan Institute) made sure he got plenty of photographic evidence! I took some shots myself and here are a small selection.

Less than a week to World Tai Chi Day

I managed to talk my family into coming down to the Festival Gardens on Friday for a photo shoot. Michael from the Land Trust had arranged to get some photos to send to the press ahead of the free event on the 27th April. Here are a few of the shots.

Assessment day has arrived

How quick have these few days gone? Now the day of reckoning is upon us. We will each do a ten minute teaching slot as part of the assessment but that is so hard to stick to. I have tried a couple of times already this morning to keep within that time frame. Failed on both occasions although the second attempt was better. I'm not going to stress about it. I've been in this situation before with Faye and Tary so at least I know what to expect. Everyone is very supportive and we will help each other through. We don't find out today whether we have passed as the Chinese professors have to agree the decisions. They would have assessed us if they were here but instead we will be videoed and they will watch that when they arrive later in the month. We will however get feedback which is always useful. Also looking forward to being taught by my peers as there is always some useful tips to take on board for my own teaching. Wishing everyone good luck for today.

Day three of course

I think we all had a great day yesterday. We got through another six moves, so still three to cover today. The explanations and in depth knowledge of Faye is fantastic and is certainly taking my practice to a different level. Last night we all went out for a Chinese buffet. Not sure I need to eat for another week but I'll give it a go! I wrote up my lesson plan this morning and will check with my little group what moves they are covering for their assessment when I get there later this morning. I think there will be some nerves around today as the big day looms. There is something about that word "assessment" that sends shivers down otherwise calm and rational people! It is still a better word than "test" though. Thank you to Anne and Jane who are doing my classes today and I'm looking forward to getting back to Liverpool tomorrow evening to see my family.

Qigong instructor course

Waking up to a lovely sunny day in Wolverhampton. This is day two of the instructor course and there are 19 of us on the course being led by Master Faye Yip and Master Tary Yip. They had hoped for the Chinese masters to be here but due to visa delays this has not been possible. Yesterday was great with introductions from everyone. Great to see familiar faces and also to meet new people too. A well thought out course, plenty of information and excellent tuition. Can't wait to get stuck in to today's session. It is going to be full on. Yesterday we did three moves, today we are completing the set which means another nine moves.

Promo Video

I have had a promo video made about the school and you can view it here

Updates

It has been ages since I last posted on here but hopefully you have kept up with things on the website and twitter. Since the last post I also have a Facebook account. You can search for it typing in Angela's Tai Chi School. Several of my venues have changed since the new year and details can be found on the website. I am hosting another Health Qigong Workshop on April 24th at The Florrie. This workshop will be delivered by a Chinese Delegation brought over to England by the BHQA. World Tai Chi and Qigong Day preparations are well under way. The date is 27th April at the Festival Gardens between 10 - 12. This is a free event for everyone to come along and try out some Tai Chi and Qigong. Master Faye Yip is coming to Liverpool in October for a day workshop on the 24 step form. This will be held at the Aigburth Community Church on October 12th. If you want any further information or to book a place on any of the workshops please contact me